Answereda year ago
Can foreigners with a Non-O retirement visa open a bank account in Thailand?
So done all paper work required to open bank account with non o retirement 90 days need to put 800k in bank to get 1 year visa extension but no bank is allowing me to open an account, I am being told it's only work permit or married to thai visa that they allow , does anyone know if this is true , I am being told this is new thing in last 2 weeks
Answer summary
Foreigners holding a Non-O retirement visa are encountering difficulties opening bank accounts in Thailand, often being told by banks that accounts can only be opened with a work permit or marriage to a Thai national. However, this seems to be more of a bureaucratic complication than a hard rule, with many users suggesting that persistence and trying different bank branches often yield success. Key requirements typically include a passport, residency certificate, lease agreement, and a Thai phone number, with assistance from a Thai person reportedly making the process smoother.
23 repliesnewest first
Click comment and we will ask for your email, then OTP, then name.
Maitin *******
Don't go to a flashy mall. Go to a branch in a big c or lotus. It's very easy to open an account on a non o.
Need to show residency and that the cell number is yours must have non o visa.
Last time I just used my Thai drivers license as residency
Need to show residency and that the cell number is yours must have non o visa.
Last time I just used my Thai drivers license as residency
Andrew ***************
Every bank is different they make it up go to a big shopping centre and go to every bank you will succeed
Burkhard ********
@Andrew **************
look for a bigger branch, I talk to service manager in Krabi branch of KBank in the new central mall in Krabi Town.
Davy **********
had two banks last trip told me i could not open an account as i was a foreigner despite having non o visa and being married to a thai.
Burkhard ********
Donald **********
@Davy *********
Try more!
Daniel *********
You need a lease agreement and a Thailand phone number
Olav *********
@Daniel ********
this thai number are not true, i just did this.YEllow book,pink id and confirmation from an village elder/worker and paper from immigration thath its ok.I Did 2 weeks agooBurkhard ********
I just opened my bank account with my Non-O at Kasikornbank.
You need a Thai phone number for the process — I use a postpaid SIM that my Thai girlfriend opened for me.
And of course you need your passport and the contract of your residence.
That’s all.
And honestly, it really helps to have a Thai person on your side. 🙏
You need a Thai phone number for the process — I use a postpaid SIM that my Thai girlfriend opened for me.
And of course you need your passport and the contract of your residence.
That’s all.
And honestly, it really helps to have a Thai person on your side. 🙏
Carsten ************
@Burkhard *******
the SIM you're using for Mobile Banking needs to be in your name. If it's on your gf's name, you might have problems in the future. You will probably be denied a postpaid plan, but there are pretty good prepaid plans.Burkhard ********
Thank you
ChatGPT told me, would not be a problem.
But I will change soon, before apply for extension.
@Carsten ***********
Yes I know, but I can change now, because now have a bank account. No bank account , no sim. ChatGPT told me, would not be a problem.
But I will change soon, before apply for extension.
Jesper *******
Passport with nonO , lease agreement, residency cert shd be able to open a bank acct .....try more branches preferably kasikorn or SCB go to those in big shopping malls they're more used to serving foreigners
Mark *********
get on Google maps in your city and look up Visa agents. then start calling around to see who will open you an account and how much it will cost.
David ******
@Mark ********
my quote was *****
baht to open account from agent.
John **********
Make sure you have both a residence certificate from immigration and a mobile with a Thai SIM registered against your passport before you go to the bank
Hans *********
@John *********
and bring receipt from phone company I had true print it up 50 b at true storeDavid ******
I was told the same until I wasn't. Just need to find the right person with knowledge. Many will say I cannot, Work Permit Only. But you can't have work permit if retired.
I find using Google Translate helps to fully explain your desire versus getting lost in translation with verbal communication.
I find using Google Translate helps to fully explain your desire versus getting lost in translation with verbal communication.
Brandon ************
Banks have been telling people these excuses when they don't want to do all the paperwork to open an account for a foreigner for much longer than 2 weeks.
Each bank branch manager sets the requirements for that bank branch. If the one you went to will not do it, go to another one, and another, and another one, until you find one that will.
Each bank branch manager sets the requirements for that bank branch. If the one you went to will not do it, go to another one, and another, and another one, until you find one that will.
Robert ********
@Brandon ***********
try Bangkok bank Chang klan branch.Matthew *********
@Brandon ***********
go to kbank they are the most farang friendly in my opinion. I closed my bangkok bank and opened a new with kbank. Very little paperwork. They didnt ask for residence certificate. They used my tm47 in my passport. They didnt make me go to phone carrier to get documents to verify phone acct. They loaded their app on my phone and face recognition. In and out. The experience was so different from bangkok bank. Many others have posted recently how easy it was using kbank
David *******
@Matthew ********
what branch?Jason ******
OP@David ******
kasikorn scbMatthew *********
@David ******
I live in issan. I am sure my branch wouldn't be any help. But overall I hear only good things from most of the branchesActivity
18 joined18
people
Related
25Can I open a bank account in Thailand with a Non-O retirement visa and a short hotel booking?
3.9k34441mo
Do you need a 1 year lease for a letter of residency in Thailand with a Non-O visa?
335242mo
When should I apply for a Non-O visa to ensure I receive it before traveling to Thailand on January 24th?
2.8k29202mo
What is the correct process for transitioning from a DTV visa to a Non-O immigrant visa in Thailand?
736566mo
Can I get a 90-day tourist visa if I'm planning to retire in Thailand and encountered issues with the Non-O visa application?
2.1k12356mo
Which banks in Bangkok allow NON O visa holders to open accounts?
1.1k5158mo
What are the requirements for foreigners to open a bank account in Thailand with a Non-O visa?
2.5k22208mo
How can I open a Thai bank account in Bangkok on a Non-O visa without an agent?
4.4k38419mo
Which bank is the easiest for expats to open an account in Nonthaburi, Thailand with a Non-O visa?
7.8k635910mo
When is the best time to move to Hua Hin after activating my Non-O visa and open a bank account?
586421y
What are the best methods for transferring money to Thailand for a Non-O visa requirement?
3.2k27271y
Is it worth paying 7,500 THB to a law firm to open a Thai bank account with a Non-O visa?
2.3k18211y
Is it difficult to open a bank account in Thailand with a Non-O marriage visa?
12.3k121851y
Can I open a bank account in Thailand with a Non-O retirement visa?
11.9k961341y
What is the process and timeline for applying for a retirement visa in Thailand, and can I travel on a holiday visa if my application isn't processed before my arrival?
2.5k19241y
Can I open a bank account in Thailand on a DTV (Digital Tourist Visa)?
3.5k30231y
How can I find an agent to help me open a bank account in Koh Phangan with a DTV visa?
1.9k1662y
What documents do I need to open a bank account in Udon Thani as a foreigner on my wife's Blue Book TR14?
1.8k14102y
What should I do if the bank claims my Non-O retirement visa is a tourist visa?
15.1k1461102y
Can I apply for a 90-day Non-O visa at a different immigration office in Thailand and how do I handle extensions and re-entry permits?
1.8k5333y
What documents are required for opening a bank account in Thailand as a retiree, and how does one apply for a Non-O visa and retirement visa?
13.9k1241273y
What is the fastest way to obtain a Non-O immigrant retirement visa for shipping belongings to Thailand?
1.1k5124y
Can you convert a tourist visa to a Non-O visa in Thailand?
2.2k11306y
How can I open a personal bank account in Thailand for a Non-O visa requirement?
1.4k977y
Have recent applicants received the 90-day Non-Immigrant Type O visa based on retirement requirements from the Thai consulate in Vientiane?
1.9k16119y
Resources
Need help with your retirement visa?
#1 visa agent · 4,000+ reviews · 100,000+ expats served